Decorating With Blue

Blue is a color that evokes mood. And because many people associate blue with melancholy, they avoid it as a decorating color.
“It's a popular conception that blue is associated with coldness, and it's not valid,” says Shelley Kirsch of Shelley Kirsch Interior
Design and Decoration in Toronto. “Used correctly, blue is extremely uplifting and vibrant.”

It’s all in the shade of blue you choose and the hues you pair it with. Discipline is key. “Keep your palate restricted,”
Shelley advises, “but don’t be afraid of blue.” By exploring blue in all its moods and shades, you can find just the
right hue to create a beautiful, serene room.

Here are Shelley’s tips for decorating beautifully with blue:

Consider the full spectrum of shades of blue, including some
of the lesser-known hues. Shelley is particularly fond of teal.

Explore the blue-gray family, especially if you are afraid of
pastels. “These hues have a calm, zen, quiet effect,” Shelley says.

Pair blue with a warm neutral. Cream, sand and light taupe are good
choices.

Consider design style. Blue lends itself especially well to transitional
design, a marriage of traditional and contemporary
that is as popular as it is affordable.